By LARRY VAUGHT
Kentucky associate athletics director of basketball operations Chris Woolard noted that UK’s welcome back to Lexington after winning the NCAA title stunned the players and staff.
“We thought we knew what it would be like and understood the importance of Kentucky basketball,” Woolard said. “We understood there would be people at Rupp Arena and thought that would be neat, but we thought then there would not be people at the airport waiting for us to land like there are at times. We land and there are 8,000 fans there.
“Great. We think then maybe there will be a couple thousand fans at Rupp Arena. We start driving out of the airport and there are cars lined up on Versailles Rd. all the way down on both sides of the street. Oncoming traffic is stopped because people are on top of their car hoods cheering. That’s when tears came to our eyes. People were lining the road all the way from the airport to Rupp Arena.
“We drive the bus into Rupp Arena and look up and the place is packed with 24,000 fans and the loudest I have ever heard it. It was an amazing feeling for our guys and I think one experience players and coaches will never forget. That is what the Big Blue Nation is all about and why Kentucky basketball stays at this level. Recruits want to be part of that.”
Trophy tour
Woolard says if he had any doubts about Kentucky having the best fan base in the country, they disappeared when Calipari decided to take the national championship trophy on a two-day tour to various spots in the state.
“You couldn’t go do that at another place. Cal could have done things to promote himself after winning the title or promote the program, but instead he wanted to take the trophy around the state,” Woolard said. “It was all his idea. We had seven stops and every time there would be 2,000 to 3,000 people waiting for us. Coach wanted everybody to get to see the trophy. He stood there however long it took. Every person got his or her picture with Calipari and the championship trophy. That’s something else I will never forget about the season and could not have been done any place in the country except Kentucky.”
5 Responses to Woolard says welcome home, trophy tour stunned, impressed UK staff, players
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Wow! I felt the emotion, just from reading the story.
1978 Deja Vu…Having access to the New Wildcat Lodge was incredible for me…Remember, it was a strictly Players Lodge at that time. I’d never seen beds that big or a TV that big. Many memorable moments, but the Biggest By Far was when the Team arrived at the Lexington Airport after winning The National Championship…I was there cheering with everyone else on the rope inside, when the Guys started walking in and slapping the Fans Hands, James Lee got to me and lifted the roped grabbed me by the arm and pulled me in front of him and said, ” come here Larry your one of us “. Wow ! No bus, all Police cars two Players to each car, me with James, smiling and waving. Pulled right up to The Wildcat Lodge, stayed out front on the steps and watched the Players and Coaches greet the Fans. Then went into the Lodge and almost feel asleep…
Wow! What a nice memory Larry T…great to be a Wildcat huh?
Only in Kentucky could something like that happen.
I keep telling people UK has the best fans of any sport in the whole world. How many times has anyone seen a trophy go on tour and have thousands show up to see it every time? That is amazing stuff right there.